Cork extrusion machine



March 23,' 1954 J. WESTERBERG CORK ExTRUsIoN MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1949 INVENTOR h/A-'sraxaew W/ ATTORNEY wmf N QQ wm @E TQ m Il. Ml l. Q` IH.. l w. i uw Am dd J\ l@ mm S N v@ March 23, 1954 J. wEsTl-:RBl-:RG

CORK ExTRusIoN MACHINEv 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 5, 1949 lNvENTOR J'o/w Wf'srs/Pe BY ATTORNEY MNT@ N@ um .wm Mm um um March 23, 1954 J. WETERBERC; '25725350 CORK EXTRUSION MACHINE Filed Jan. 5, 1949 4 'Sheets-Sheet 3 m5/a? w March 23, 1954 J. wEsTERBERG CORK ExTRusIoN n/mcHINE LHP I ATToRNEY Patented Mar. 23, 1954 f-"UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CORK ExTRUsIoN MACHINE l John Westerberg', Yonkers, N. Y. Application January 5, 1949, serial No. 69,294

This invention relatesl to an improved machine for extruding cork. More particularly, the invention relates to the extrusion of cork rod from which slices are to be cut for use as liners for bottle caps, but it will be understood that the inventionis also applicable to the production of various other. Cork extrusion products.

One object ofthe invention is to produce a continuous extrusion product of unlimited or indeterminate length from material which is capable of being extruded in only relatively short lengths vby methods heretofore practiced.

It has jbeen customary in the past to make cork linersfor bottle caps by compacting round rods of cork about one inch in diameter from a supplyof ground cork mixed with a binding cement of well known type used for that purpose. Thesevrods are then sliced transversely into thin sections-to produce discs which serve as liners for the bottle caps. tion small charges of the loose particles of ground cork mixed with the binder,.are rammed into, but not entirely through, a tube, each charge being of such size that when compressed, it adds about one inch to the filling in the tube.. When the tube is filled to the desired length, it is manually removed from the cork ramming device and placed in an oven to harden the binder and bond the particles together to forma rigid rod which is then laboriously extruded from the tube. So i such pressure is required to thrust the cork rod from the tube that the cork at one end of the rod tends to become objectionably compressed and permanently hardened and to lose its natural resiliency, so that it is no longer suitable for the intended purpose. made with alength of only 20 to 24 inches. While it is possibletom'ake' longer rods up to a maximum length of about 30 to 36 inches by this prior art method, such lengths are impractical, because of increased laborand increased waste of material spoiled by the extrusion operation.

lRegardless of length, the rod is .always subject toan undesirable waste when made by that method. Due Ato imperfections at the ends Vof the. rod, each end has to be trimmed to square it olf before the rod can be placed in the slicing ma- In uthe compacting operan 4 Claims. (Cl. 18-5) The rods are usually f chine, thus wasting-a certain amount of material and time. The ramming pressure and the pressure required to extrude the cork from the tube, produce a` more compressed cork at the pressed end than at the free end, thus producing al-diierent density of cork at the two ends of the rod.l As-fav result the free end contains a; v

portion of insuicient density which has to be discarded, thus increasing the amount of waste. The resulting rejected material may amount on the average to about one quarter inch loss ltoeach foot of the rod, or about two per cent of the rod.

The prior art method of manufacture is also objectionable in cost, because of the large amount of labor required to attend to the different operations, and because of the reduced production of the machine resulting from the idle periods when the machine is stopped after each lling.-

of the extrusion tube.

Other objects of the invention are to overcome or reduce one or more of the objections and diiculties experienced with the prior art method of making bottleV cap liners; to provide apparatus for producing a continuous extruded product of unlimited length from non-rigid material, such as ground cork with binder, or other suitable material, for use in making bottle cap liners or for other uses; to improve the quality and uniformity of the product; to prevent or reduce waste of material; and to reduce the cost, labor and attention required in the diierent operational steps of making an vextrusion product of the kind referred to.

Another object of the invention is to provide an eicient and relatively simple machine for accomplishing one or more of the above mentioned objectives.

According to the present invention, ground cork, adapted to be converted into a permanently rigid mass, is withdrawn froma supply of the material in successive charges which are vpressed in succession into predetermined cross-sectional form, each charge as it is pressed into form being pressed against the Vpreviously .formed charge to unite the formed charges together into a continuous length of material of uniform cross section. This continuous length of material is main tained under pressure and moved continuously away from the place where the charges are successively united, the continuous length Abeing vmoved with such timing as to permit the next successive charge to move up and make suitable pressure contact with the continuous length to'v unite therewith, .the force moving thecontinuous length being applied thereto separately from the force applied to the successive charges for uniting them together. The'resulting continuous length of material is moved under pressure at substantially constant speed over a predetermined path. wherein the material is made' permanen'tly"rigid;as by heating and then cooling,

the pressure being then progressively removed v t from those portions of the length that have passed this path, to progressively release the material as a nished product ready for its intended use.

The machine for carrying out the operation has a primary extrusion conduit and a secondary extrusion conduit aligned therewith for completing the extrusion operation. The secondary extrusion conduit has an extrusion duct which is slightly large-r than that of thefprirnary extrusion conduit, so that the secondary conduit may telescope over the primary conduit in the extrusion direction to extrude the material through the secondary conduit. The secondary conduit maintains the extrusion material under pressurel and moves it over the predetermined path whereinthe material is made rigid. The secondary conduit has separable sub-sections which4 are, progres sively removed from registration with each other after passing the predetermined path, thereby releasing the nished product at the output 'end of the machine. The sub-sections are arranged in separate trains moving in closed 'loops which 'return the sub-sections into registration with Aeach other around the primary extrusion conduit.

AThe lextrusion product is `especially adapted for use as stock from which bottle cap liners may be sliced, but .maybe applied to other uses, and ycan be produced as a continuous rod or sheet of unlimited length, so that .the time and labor of squaring oif the imperfect ends of the prior art rods of short length, can be entirely eliminated', and appreciable waste of material from this cause is thus avoided. Since the quality and density of the: material in the rod aresubstant-ially uniform throughout the length of the rod, the waste of material due to inadequate density at one end of the, vprior art short length rod, is entirely eliminated.

These .and other objects .and features of the invention will; be understood more clearly from the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims;

In the accompanying drawings.:

Fig. l is an elevation of an extrusion machine; and Fig. la, on -a slightly larger scale than Fig. `l, is a schematic diagram showing a, portion of the Fig. 1 in elevation with. iorced air cooling applied thereto;

Fig. 2, on alarger scale than Fig. 1, is a horizontal section oi a portion of the'machine, taken online 2--2,. Fig. 3;

i3 is .an elevation, partly broken away, of a portion of the machine, showing some of the details of the extruding mechanism;

Fig.. 4'-, onl a larger scale than Fig; 3, is an elevation in section, taken on the line-4wd, Fig. 3:

Fig. 5r is a perspective view of a rod extruded by the machine;

Fig. 6 is a schematic diagram of 'hydraulic mechanism for operating the extrusion ramsY shown in more detail in Fig. 2;

Figs.4 7` and 8 are vertical sections of modifications ofthe extrusion mechanism for producing flat extrusion products.

Referring to Fig. '1, the extrusion machine I0, having the frame II, supports the input hopper I2 :for-receiving a supply of ground cork or other non-rigid material I3, Fig. 3, to be extruded. The groundy corkl I3 is mixed with any well known adhesive, binder or cement, such as glue, suitable for the purposes of the product, for bindingthe-loose particles :together asa-rigid body in the Y per I2.,

@i form of a round rod I4, Figs. 1 and 5, from which bottle cap liners can be sliced, or in any desired cross-sectional form for liners or other uses.

The extrusion material I3, Fig. 3, falls into the bottom of the hopper I2, emptying into the input end of one or more primary extrusion conduits I5, Figs. 2 and 3, Which for the purpose of shaping round rods, comprise tubes having a circular cross-sectional duct i6. The input ends of the tubes. I5 are rigidly clampedV between the blocks Ill, il and. IS, 4.8, lbolted tothe frame li, and have the shoulders I9, I9 to prevent axial displacement thereof. The upper portion of each tube I5 is cut away at 2B, Fig. 3, to provide an opening for admitting the material I3 from the bottom of hop- The wall of each extrusion tube I5 is made thin at its output end 2 I, as compared with the. wall at the input end of the tube, so that there is` only a Slight difference between the in- 5 side and outside diameters at the output end. A

ram 22 nts closely within each tube I5, but isv free to reciprocatetherein from the full line end'pcsi-v tion 23, Fig. 3, to an extreme right position indicated by the dotted end position 24, slightly beyond the output end 2| of tube I5. Each ram 22v has an end portion 25- of reduced'l diameter, supported by the travelling block 25, yolring together the rams 22, The block 26- carries the freely rotatable rollers 21 and 28 at the opposite ends thereof, these rollers being arranged toA track, respectively, within the U-shaped channels 29 and 3d, fastened to the frame Il of the machine. The end portion 25 of each ram is freely slidable through a corresponding hole 3I Vin blockl 26, the axial movement being limited in one direction by the stop nut 32 and lock nut 33', threaded on the screw threaded free end of the end portion 25, and being limited in the opposite direction by the helical spring 34', surrounding the end portion 25 of the ram. The springs 34 are axially com? pressed between the block 26 and the shoulders 35 of rams 22, to urge rams 22 toward the right and control the 'density of compression or the cork orl other extrusion material, and to equal'- ize the pressure of the rams, as well as prevent excessive pressure from being applied tothe ex-f trusion material. .As-the ram occupies' the entire extrusion tube, allv the cork granules received in a charge are compacted in the extrusion tube or primary extrusion conduit and forcedout of the tube and into the secondary extrusion conduit (to be described) ina uniformly compacted condition.

Thel reciprocating piston rod 35, bolted fast to the middle of' bloclrl 28 supplies the driving'force for reciprocating therams 22; Rollers 21, 28 in' channels 29,A 3B, serve to guide the block 26 and to.V

prevent upward or downward displacement ofthe driven ends of ramsr22: when subjected to strong dri-ving, forces.

Thehydmulic drive The hydraulic drive unit 3l', Figs. 1 and 6, for

38 through thev switch 49. The'motor 38 is-mechanically coupled with'the rotary pump 4I forpumping oil lor other well-known suitable hyv draulic fluid l2 from the reservoir 43 through the intake pipev M. The pump output pipe`45 transmits fluid pressure through pipes 66 and 41 to the conventional two-way rotary valve 48, having itsjA rotor1 48, when in the position shown, with itswhich the pressure is applied to the right-hand end of the piston 52 of the relay valve 53, thus forcing the piston 52 to the left wherein a passage is providedfrom the pump output pipe 45 through pipe 54, portA 55 in piston 52, pipe 56, including valve-5l', to the right-hand end 0f cylinder 59. Valve 5'! has the adjusting screw 58 forregulating the speed of fluid ilow into the cylinder 59. The fluid pressure forces the piston 69 toward the left-hand end of the cylinder 59. The fluid to the left of piston Sil, when the piston moves to the left, escapes through pipe 6|, port 62 of piston 52, pipes |53 and 64, and back to reservoir 43. The bypass pipe includes the control valve 'i2 for regulating the amount of uid bled from the pump to regulate the fluid pressure, indicated by indicator '!3 and transmitted through the pump output v pipe 45.

The rotors 6'! and 45 of two-way valves 96 and A48, respectively, are mechanically coupled together so that they may be rocked in unison, as indicated schematically by the dotted line valve stem or shaft '!il, which extends to and rigidly carries the tripping lever unit 'M The unit 'I4 has an arm 'l5 extending therefrom in the path of the control arm '!6, which is rigidly fastened to the right-hand end of the control rod welded or otherwise suitably secured to the free end of the bracket '!9, which in turn is rigidly fastened by the screws 'i9 to the reciprocating block 25.

VWith the valves 65 and 49 set in the positions shown in Fig. 6, the piston rod 36 and control rod are moved in the direction indicated by the arrows, until control arm 'i6 trips arm l5, thereby rocking arm '!5, valve shaft '!4 and valve rotors 49 and 6'! in a counter-clockwise direction, as indicated by arrows, thereby blocking the passage from pipe 9'! to pipe 5| through port 50, and opening up a passage for the transmission of pressure from pump output pipe 45, through.

pipes 46 and 99, valve port 58, and through pipe 65 to the left-hand end of piston 52 of relay valve 53. Piston 52 is then forced to the right bythe fluid pressure, thereby blocking the passage from pipe 55 to pipe 55 through port 55, and opening up a new passage from pipe 54 to the branch passage 8| and pipe 6| to the left end of cylinder 59. The resulting luid pressure on the left of piston the fluid to the right of piston 59, escaping through valve .5l and pipe 56, port 62, pipe 53,

and pipe 54 to reservoir 43.' The iluid to thev right of valve piston 52, escapes through pipe 5|, port 59, pipes 82, 'i9 and 94 to reservoir 43.

A'Ihe tripping lever unit '!4 has the arm 83 extending therefrom in the path of the control arm 84 `which Vis rigidly fastened on the left-hand endofthe control rod '!1. When the piston 6-0 approaches theflimit of its travel to the right, control arm 84 -trips arm 83 and rocks unit '54, valve shaft '!4' and the valve rotors 59 and 6'! in a clockwise direction, thereby restoring these elements to the positions shown in Fig. 6. The above described cycle of events is then repeated in successive cycles, so that the piston 69 is thus automatically reciprocated at a speed under the control of adjustable valves 5'! and l2. The control arms 84 and i6, which slide along control rod are fastened thereto by set screws|29 and |35, t

respectively, which permit of adjustment of the positions of the arms on rod to adjust the length of. stroke of piston tu and the rams 22 driven therebyand to adjust the limit of travel of-.the rams 221m either-directionbyselecting anyl 59, forces the piston to the right,

vand output ends ofthe machine.

Etrustion conveyor` An upper closed loop U, employing a. trainof extrustion blocks 85, of equal length and form-y ing sections of the secondary extrusion conduit, is looped over the upper hexagonal driving drum 8'! at the output end of the machine, Fig. 1, and over the idler drum 88 at the input end of the machine. A similar lower closed loop L, employing a similar train of extrusion blocks 86, is looped over the lower hexagonal driving drum 90 at the output end of the machine, and over the hexagf onal'idler drum 9| at the'input end of the machine. 'I'he driving drums 8'! and 9!) are rigidly secured, respectively, to journalled, respectively, at one end in the fixedv frame member |39 and at the other end in a similar xed frame member, not shown. Idler drums 58 and 9| are supported, respectively, on the shafts |34 and |35, journalled, respectively,I at one end in the fixed frame member |36 and at the other end in a similar Xed frame rnernberA |31, Figs. 2 and 3.

The adjacent blocks 85 or 86 in loops U and L are coupled together by two flat links 92, each*l link being free to turn on a headed pivot'pin 93, at either end of the link, and each pin vSiibeing rigidly supported by its associatedv block 85 or 89. It will be seen in Fig. 3 that the blocks 85y and 8S correspond approximatelyin length with the length of the sides of the polygon 88 or 9| over which they feed. Since the adjacent blocks and 89 are linked together as closely as possible, to reduce the width of the joint between them to a minimum when the blocks are in straight alignment with each other, I have found it advantageous to provide a bevelled edge 94 at the transverse edges of each block, at the inside lengthwise of the blocks to form continuous` recesses which align with each other from block to block along the inside of loops U and L. The

-'guide rollers 99, positioned below the upper run of the lower loop L.. t closely at their rims within the recesses 95 and roll freely therein to provide an anti-friction track for guiding andsupporting the upper run of the lower loop so that it feeds in-a straight line path between the input l Rollers 98 rotate freely on theilxed shafts 97, rigidly supported at their ends by the horizontal bars 93,v

forminga part of the fixed frame of the machine.9.v 4`Rollers 9S are held in `:lixed positions axially of` shafts 9T, by well-known means, not shown, so thatvthey may serve to limit lateral movement of thelower loop as it'feeds through the machine.'

lThe guide rollers 99, similar vto `and spaced directly above the rollers 96, t. closely at their rimsrwithin the recesses95 of the blocks 85 in the lower runof the upper loop and roll freely within recesses 95 tov guide the lower run ofthe upper loop and to limit lateral movementfthereof. Rollers 99 rotatefreelyon thefixed shafts |99, rigidly supported at their ends by the horizontal bars |0I, which are secured by the bolts |92 to the fixed frame bars 98 into. which they thread. (Byadjusting .bolts .I ll2lup ordown, the. pressure between;incasseren@layer registered i.

aeaaoso 7. blocks. may be.y varied. Lock nutsit retain the bolts |02 in their adjusted positions.

The blocks 85 in the upper loop U are preferably so positioned in relation to the blocks 8S in the lower loop L that the transverse joints ltd between the adjacent blocks in one loop are out of registration withY the transverse joints ltd lin the other loop, as indicated in Figs. 3 and 1a.. Under these conditions, the blocks mutually brace each other and tend to keep in betterV alignment with each other at the transverse joints ('04, thereby interrupting and reducing the annular flash on the extruded product.

The upper run of loop U and the lower run of loop- L may be kept from excessive sagging by providing rollers at suitable points along these runs, as for example, rollers m5 land H35", Fig. 3, which are freely rotatable on the fixed shafts "06 and H56', supported rigidly by the i'lxed frame member t28 of the machine.

Opposite the faces of the blocks having the recesses 95 are parallel grooves I0? oi semi-circular cross section and extending lengthwise of the blocks. The grooves |01 are so positioned that when the grooved sides of two blocks are brought into registration with each other, as shown in Fig. 4, where loops U and L come together, the resulting ducts B between the blocks are of circular cross section and extend in alignment with each other from block to block between the input and the output ends of thev machine. The grooved blocks thus serve as sub-sections forming secondary extrusion conduits. Each of the extrusion ducts It is slightly larger in cross sectional area than the primaryT extrusion duct I6 with which it is aligned.

The blocks 85 and 8G are preferably cut from an aluminum extrusion. In addition to the roller receiving grooves 95 andy the grooves lill, which form the extrusion ducts |08, the extrusion has a n ill!)V and groove il!) so located that when one length of the severed extrusion is reversed and placed on the other, the ns m9 enter the grooves H0 and assure registry of the grooves l'l. Owing to the staggering of the opposed blocks, the n on one block enters grooves in two adjacent blocks.

At the output end of the machine, to the right in Fig. l, the electric` motor lll, of substantially constant speed, connects through the line H2 and the switch H3' with the power line 39. The motor pulley H4A drives belt H5, which in turn drives pulley ll-, coupled through speed reduction gearing, not shown, in gear box H1, thereby driving gearl pinion H8, meshed with the drive gear H9, rigidly coupled to the drum 9B through the shaft 132. Gear U9 also meshes with the drive gear |21, rigidly coupled to the drum 8T through the shaftv |31. Gears H9 andi2l are of the same size and thus rotate drive drums 81 and 90 at the same speed and in opposite directions, as indicated by the arrows, to feed the upper loop in a counter-clockwise direction and the lower loop in a clockwise direction. The inner runs4 of the loopsy are thus fed between the sets of rollers 9S and 89, into close registration with each other, as shown in Fig. 3, around the output end of each primary-extrusion conduit l5, where the registered blocks 85-86 telescope over the thin walled ends 2i of the primary extrusion conduits. The secondary extrusion conduits formed by the blocks travel at substantially constant speed over the secondary extrusion path to the output of the machine where the driving drums 8l and 90 progressively remove the loops U' andV 8 L from registration with each other between the' sets. of rollers 96 and 99, thereby progressively/removing the blocks i355 and 86 from the extrusionproduct i4;

Anoven 122, Fig. 1., having any suitable heating means, such as the gas burner |23, and covered at the top and side walls with insulating material' i24, provides a heating zone forI dryingor otherwise setting the glue or other binding means employed for binding together the particles of cork or other non-rigid material being extruded. The heating zone surrounds the extrusion path and preferably extends as indicated by the. arrows in Fig. 1, from a point the secondary extrusion path spaced slightly from AtheY input end thereof', to a point farther along the path in the output direction, leaving room for a cooling zone extending from the heating zone to the output end of the machine as indicated by the arrows. The cooling zone shown in Fig. l depends entirely on natural convection, conduction and radiation of the heat from the extrusion material and parte of the machine being'cooled.

In order to expedite cooling of the extrusionv material within a relatively short zone, forced cooling may be employed, as shown in- Fig. la, in which cooling air from a blower, not shown, is fed through the conduits |25 and f2s, respectively above and below the registered blocks forming the secondary extrusion conduit, the air `seing directed toward the blocks through the air blast outlets iEi, positioned at intervals along the conduits 25 and f2s. The heating or cooling zones, or both, may be omitted where the nature of the extrusion material' is such that these zones are not needed to convert the nonrigid material into rigid form.

The operation The extruding operation is continuous so long. as material is supplied and the oven heated (where necessary). Motor L38 operates the hydraulic drive 31, causing the rams 22, Figs. 2 and 3 to reciprocate between the positions 23 and 24, Fig. 3. Each time a ram` 22 moves to the rightA of the position 23, the ram withdrawsr a charge of extrusion material i3 from the bottom of the hopper i2 and starts pressing it with increasing pressure toward the output end of the.

primary extrusionconduit i5,4 thereby compressing the charge to close the gaps in the extrusion. material and to press the charge into a form corresponding with the cross sectional shape of the extrusion duct i6, which in the example chosen is a cylindrical form corresponding with the circular cross sectionalshape of the extrusion duct. The ram 22 continues to pressthe formed chargev until it is extruded as a partially completed extrusion product from the primary extrusion duct I6 into the secondary extrusion duct 108 formedv by the moving blocks 815-88 in registration with each other.

The upper and lower trains of blocks, comprising the secondary extrusion conduits, travel in the extrusion direction at substantially constant speed, while the formed charges extruded by the primary extrusion conduits are fed only intermittently into the duct IBB, but are timed in such relation to the movement of the duct Hi8, by adjustinent of the valves 58' and 12 and byselection of' motor speeds and gears and pulleys between motor' iii and drive drum 90, that the ram 22 separately rams each formed' charge from duct il'. into bonding contact with the previouslyformed continuously moving charge in. duct 08; with.

sumcientforce to add the successive charges to- It will be seen that the continuous stream of extrusion material is moved at a uniform speed toward the output end of the mach'ine by a power This power isv indederived from motor pendent of that exerted by the rams 22 in compressing theextrusion material and in uniting* thesuccessive charges -together, and the speed depends upon the motor speed and gear ratios. It will also be noted that the material is exe truded through the secondary extrusion conduits formed by the blocks, without any sliding friction betweenthe extrusion conduit and the eX- trusion material,` thus freeing the extrusion material from excessive distortions and undesirable forcesyin contrast tothe conditionA in the usual prior art operations wherein the material slides withhigh frictional "resistance through a sta'- tionary duct, thereby limiting the extrusion of cork `rods toshortlengths of not over about 24 inches.y f Y, Y

The glue orother-"means, by which'the ground cork `or other extrusion material is made rigid, is` cured or-otherwise made effective in the heating zone, followed by the cooling zone which furthercompletes the binding.y operation, or .cools the product for use.

At the output end of the-machine, the extru-l sion blocks -aredrawn by thedrums 81 and 90 from the space between rollers 96 and 99 and are carried over the drums 81 and 90, thereby removing the pressure of the blocks 86 from the rod 4, or other extrusion product, and releasing the product for its intended use.

The extrusion product may be made of any desired unlimited continuous length and has been found in practice to have a high degree of liniformity in quality and density of material, thus adapting it particularly for use as stock for making bottle cap liners, as referred to above, without appreciable waste of material and with a relatively small amount of attention and labor.

While four extrusion ducts |08 are shown in Fig. 4, it will be understood that the number and the cross sectional shape of the ducts, as well as the width of the blocks, may be varied within wide limits. Fig. '7 shows such a modification, in which the extrusion opening |38 between the blocks 85 and 86 is of rectangular cross sectional shape instead of circular (as in the case of the extrusion duct |08 in Fig. 4), and in which the one duct |38 takes the place of the four ducts |08 in Fig. 4. The extrusion product |39 is in the form of a fiat bar of cork or other extrusion material, formed between the blocks 85' and 86', which are fed between the two sets of guide rollers 96 and 99, shown only in part, as in the case of blocks 85 and 86, Fig. 4, which are fed between similar rollers 96 and 99. The n |09 and channel ||0 on each block interlock, respectively, with the channel H' and iin |09' of the other block to prevent objectionable lateral displacement of the blocks with respect to each other.

Fig. 8 shows a modification of the secondary extrusion block arrangement adapted for adjustment of the thickness of the extruded vfiat bar |40 extruded through the extrusion duct |4| between an upper block |42 and a lower block |43, fed between the lower set of rollers 96 and the upper set 99. In order tov change the thick.

ness of the extruded bar |40, the upper rollers 99 are adjusted up or down by the bolts |02, Fig. 4, b'y an amount corresponding the higher or lower position of block |42 for providing the desired spacing between blocks I 42 and |43. Y

kThe cross section of the primary extrusion conduits and the ramming mechanism could be 4, altered to correspond with the cross section of Azo the product.

. Since it is obvious that the invention may be embodied in other forms and constructions within 'the scope ofthe claims, I wish it to be undery stood that the particular form shown is but one of these forms, andvarious modifications and changes being possible, I do not otherwise limit myself in any way withv respect thereto.

What is claimed is:

1. A cork extrusionmachine having a primary extrusion conduit of uniform cylindrical bore,

throughout its length and having a hopper1 at the input end of the conduit adapted to receive. a

supplyof coated corkgranules, the Aouter`di'a'u`n-- eter of the output end of the conduit being less than that of the input end to provide a thin wall, a plurality of trains along a longitudinal,axis,y means for continuously moving said trains into registrationwith each other and closing themtightly around the thin' walled output end of said primary conduit and for moving the registered trains away fromthev primary conduit in the direction of extrusion and at uniform speed, said sections when in registrationforming a secondary extrusion conduit, a reciprocating ram closely fitting the bore of the primary conduit, means to operate the ram to move it from a rear position, where it allows a charge of material to fall from the hopper into the primary conduit, through the primary conduit and into the secondary conduit to extrude the entire charge through the primary conduit and force the charge beyond the end of that conduit and into the secondary contact and against the previously compacted charge therein, means for heating a portion of said secondary conduit to cure the compacted granules, and means for progressively removing said trains from registration with each other for releasing the extruded material from said secondary conduit.

2. A cork extrusion machine for operating on granulated cork precoated with adhesive and comprising a stationary tube of uniform internal dimension and having a charge receiving portion and a delivery end, a closely fitting ram in the tube, means for operating the ram from a rear position behind the charge receiving portion entirely through the tube and beyond the end of the tube whereby it compacts each charge in the tube to uniform diameter and completely forces the charges of compacted cork granules beyond the end of the tube, a longitudinally split, sectionalized, continuously moving tubular receiver for the charges and into which the ram enters when thus forcing the charges, means to close the receiver while in contact with the discharge end of the tube so that the compacted material cannot escape, means to hold the receiver against splitting when thus closed, a heating zone and a cooling zone through which the closed receiver successively passes, and means to open the reof conduit sections split ceiver to separate it from the finished product.

3. In an extrusion machine for producing an unlimited length of round cork rod from loose particles of granulated cork precoated with adhesive and adapted to be permanently bonded together while under pressure, comprising a hopper for the granules, a horizontal tubular ram chamber open at both ends and having an opening to receive a charge of granules from the hopper, the ram chamber being of uniform circular cross-section throughout the length and extending forwardly of the hopper to form a primary extrusion conduit, the outer diameter of the output end of' the primary extrusion conduit being less than that oi the input end to provide a thin wall, a ram traversing the ram chamber and of corresponding cross-section, means t0 operate the ram from a rear position behind the hopper to a front portion Where it protrudes from the primary conduit, the ram when retracted opening the ram chamber openingr to the hopper and when moved forwardly pushing the charge in front of it, compacting it to a uniform density in the forward end of the ram chamber and forcing all of the compacted granules from the primary extrusion conduit and a substantial distance beyond the same, a plurality of trains of conduit section split along a longitudinal axis, means for continuously moving said trains into registration with each other and closing them tightly about the thin walled portion of the pri mary conduit and for moving the registered trains away from the primary conduit in the direction of extrusion and at uniform speed Whereby the expansion of the cork granules upon entering the secondary conduit corresponds to the thin Wall thickness, and means for heating a portion of said secondary conduit to cure the compacted granulesl and means for progressively l. .i

removing said trains from registration with each 12 other for releasing the extruded material from said secondary conduit.

4. A cork extrusion machine having a primary extrusion conduit oi uniform cylindrical bore throughout its length and having a hopper at the input end of the conduit adapted to receive a supply of coated cork granules, the outer diameter of the output end ofthe conduit being less than that of the input end to provide a thin wall, a plurality of trains of conduit sections split along a longitudinal axis, means for continuously moving said trains into registration with each other and closing them tightly around the thin Walled output end of' the said primary conduit and for moving the registered trains away from the primary conduit in the direction oi extrusion and at uniform speed, said sections when in registration forming a secondary extrusion conduit, a reciprocating ram closely fitting the bore oi the primary conduit, and means to.' op-v erate the ram to move it from a rear position, Where it allows a charge of material to fall from the hopper into the primary conduit, through the primary conduit and into the secondary conduit to extrude the entire charge through the. primary conduit and force the charge beyond the end of that conduit and into the secondary contact and against the previously compacted charge therein.

JOHN WESHERBERG.

References Cited in the file vof this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 815,647 Simpkin Mar. 20, 1906 1,455,946 Wester May 22, 1923 1,577,922 Marsa et al. Mar. 23, 1926 1,603,140 Muller Oct. 12, 1926 1,671,079 McManus May 22, 1928 1,680,952 Muller Aug. 14, 1928 1,905,663 Wallace Apr. 25, 1933 

